The Virginia softball team continued their 16-game homestand, earning a split with Rutgers University on Tuesday afternoon at The Park. The Cavaliers won the first game by a score of 5-2. The Scarlet Knights, however, took the second game, 6-1. Virginia now has an overall record of 16-14 and is 6-3 on their current homestand.
In the evening's first game, the Cavaliers fell behind in the top of the second inning, surrendering two unearned runs to the Scarlet Knights. But, in the bottom of the second, freshman starting pitcher Christina Grimm helped her own cause by blasting a solo home run over the left field fence.
"It was my first collegiate home run," Grimm said. "It was nice to get it out of the way."
After the second inning, the Cavaliers rode Grimm's strong arm to victory, as she scattered four hits over the next 4.1 innings. Grimm struck out four and did not give up an earned run on her way to the impressive victory, improving her record to 4-3. Freshman Erin Horn quickly recorded the final two outs to earn the save.
"Over the last week, Christina has been really strong and we can see her confidence growing," coach Cheryl Sprangel said. "We knew she had great potential -- she just needs time. But she is coming into her own."
In the bottom of the fifth, the Cavaliers tallied three runs to take the lead. Freshman Sara Larquier crushed a double off of the left centerfield wall and drove in freshman Jessica Taylor and senior Ruby Rojas. Later in the inning, Grimm singled to center field, driving in junior Hannah Owings. In the sixth, Taylor reached on a fielder's choice and proceeded to swipe second and third bases. She later scored the final Virginia run on a Rutgers throwing error.
In game two, the Cavaliers gave up four runs to the Scarlet Knights in the top half of the first inning. Junior Joanna Barstad started as pitcher but was ineffective. She quickly gave way to Horn after recording only one out.
Junior Heather Field led off the bottom of the first when she lined a triple down the right field line. She later scored on a sacrifice fly by Rojas. The Cavaliers could not manage any more runs after the first.
"Intensity was there in the hitting in the first game," Sprangel said. "But in the second game, we were struggling because of our hitting."
Virginia managed five hits in the game, but they were unable to string them together to mount a serious comeback. The bright spot for the Cavaliers was Horn. She hurled 6.2 innings and struck out seven to keep Virginia in the game.
"Erin is doing great," Sprangel said. "She is capable of holding teams to one or two runs, and she has pitched great in every game. Unfortunately, we have not been able to give her enough run support every time out."
Despite Horn's performance, the real star of the game was Rutgers senior Andria Koehler. She pitched a complete game, in which she surrendered only five hits, issued only one walk and fanned five Cavalier batters.
"We played pretty strong in both games," Grimm said. "But the first game was more like the team we really are."
Virginia continues their homestand this weekend as they host Penn State, Tulsa, Robert Morris and James Madison in the Hoo's Who Tournament from March 21-23 at The Park.
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